Nextel/Sprint , Tmobile,AT&T and Verizon got sued by NTP

[imported_ghengis]

its about time for little guyz to pusg the big guys.

PATENT SUIT

NTP takes fresh aim at wireless giants
SUSAN DECKER
Bloomberg News
September 11, 2007

WASHINGTON -- AT&T Inc., Verizon Communications Inc. and Sprint Nextel Inc., the biggest U.S. wireless carriers, have been sued by NTP Inc. over patent infringement claims similar to those it made against Waterloo's Research In Motion Ltd., owner of the BlackBerry device.

Closely held NTP, a technology-licensing company, claims AT&T, Verizon's Verizon Wireless unit and Sprint are violating eight patents for e-mail services. They include some that were part of NTP's patent case against RIM. NTP wants royalties based on sales of phones, personal digital assistants and other e-mail devices.

"Verizon's continued infringement with its present knowledge of NTP's patent rights and their relevance to defendant's operations is reckless and willful," NTP said in the complaint against Verizon Wireless.

NTPs patent lawsuit against RIM ended with a $612.5-million (U.S.) settlement in March, 2006, one of the largest patent dispute payments in history. The case lasted more than four years and was repeatedly bogged down with motions and procedural issues.

At one point the presiding judge, James Spencer, vented his frustration with both sides, telling them, "I've spent enough of my life and my time on NTP and RIM."

The complaints against AT&T, Sprint and Verizon were filed Sept. 7 in federal court in Richmond, Va., where the RIM case was heard.

NTP has signed agreements with Nokia Corp., the world's largest maker of mobile phones, and Good Technology Inc., now owned by Motorola Inc., so phones under those licenses won't be affected by the cases.

Verizon spokeswoman Nancy Stark declined to comment. Sprint spokesman Matt Sullivan said the company is reviewing the complaint and had no comment. Dave Pacholczyk, an AT&T spokesman, didn't have any immediate comment.

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office is reviewing the patents and has issued rejection notices on them. NTP is appealing that decision, and until the appeal is completed, the patents remain valid.

NTP also sued Palm